HON. J. GRIMMOND.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16152, 29 November 1924, Page 5

HON. J. GRIMMOND.

SUDDEN DEATH AT ROSS, A LINK WITH BOLD RUSHES. WEST COAST IDENTITY. The sudden death at Ross on Thursday evening of the Hon. Joseph Grim mond, M-L.C., severs what might be the only humon link that connected the goldflolds of California, Australia, New Zealand and Yukon.

(By Telegraph—Special to Times.) W ELLINGTON, Friday.

Sir Francis Eell reostvoii a telegram from the Town Clerk of Hokitika today announcing the sudden death at Ross of Mr Grimmond, and the flags in the Stale buildings were immediately lowered. The late Mr Grimmond had an adventurous career. Born at Drogheda (Ireland) 81 years ago, he was trained as an engineer. Re landed in Melbourne at the age of 16,'"and went to the Ballarat goldfields at the height of the fever. When the rush at Gabriel’s Gully set in he went there, in 1861, and followed the rush with success. Two years later he went to the Whakamarina Held, going thence to the West Coast goldfield at Ross, where he has settled, with one brief intermission, for 60 years. At one time, according to friends in Wellington, ho visited the California field, in -1897, and when the Klondyke rush attracted attention he went, there, and encountered terrible experiences, through h eir) B snowed up In the famous Cliilcoot Pass, where hundreds of gold-seekers perished. Mr Grimmond’s name has been closely associated with the municipal and political history of the West Coast. He was chosen Mayor of Ross about twenty times, and was a member or chairman of the Westland County Council until his death. Only last session he took an active part in a representative deputation from the West, Coast local authorities to Sir Francis Bell and the Commissioner ot State Forests on the question of the rights of local bodies concerning timber royalties. He was mainly instrumental in having the timber commission set up. In 1897 he defeated Mr John Balfor for the Hokitika seat, which he retained till the dissolution ip |B9O. The late Mr Seddon, who held the Kumara seat, contested Westland in the 1890 election against Mr Grimmond. Mr Seddon had a majority of 338 in. a vote of 600, it was at this election that the Speaker (Sir Maurice Q’RourkeJ was defeated. When the House assembled the Conservative Government's candidate for the Speakership (Mr Rolleston) was defeated by the Liberal candidate, (Sir William Stewart) and the Government resigned, being replaced by the Baliane.e Government. In 1896 Mr Grimmond again, contested the Westland seat, hut Mias defeated by Mr Seddon by a greater margin than before- The story is told concerning this •lection that a farmer came into Roes Just before polling day, and a Mend remarked: “I suppose you are voting for Grimmond?” "Great heavens 1" ejaoulated the farmer, “is Old Dick dead?" In 1918, during the regime of the National Government, members of the Reform and Liberal parties were simultaneously appointed to the Legislative Council, and Mr Grimmond was one of Sir Joseph Ward’s nominees. Since that time, said Sir Francis Bell to-day, Mr Grimmond was tjhe most popular member of the Upper House. He was a lover of all forms. Pf sport, but spent a good deal of his spare time at billiards, and last session he won the Legislative Council championship, the trophy for which was a sliver cigarette case. He was chairman of the Goldfields Committee of the Legislative Council. Last year, despite his advancing years, Mr Grimmond personally conducted a parliamentary party up the Franz Josef glacier. The party included Sir Francis Bell and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. He was active up to the time Of his death, which caused a profound shock to his friends In Wellington when it became known; in fact, ipeople at first did not believe It, A. recognised mining authority in the Legislature, Mr Grimmond had many business associations with the goldmining industry. He was very successful and held large holdings in mining companies, including the Ross United, Band of Hope, and Mount l’Or, as well as heing part owner of the Back Creek and Kanieri water-races.

Mr Grimmond Was married twice. His second wife was a daughter of the late Mr Dunoan Macfarlane, one time Stipendiary Magistrate for Hokitika.